Academics

Clinical Rotations/Sample Matrix with explanation of in-house, local community rotations, and away rotations

In-house rotations – WRNMMC

You will spend the majority of your PGY2 and Chief Resident year at Walter Reed. There, you will rotate through all the subspecialties.       

Didactic Schedule including opportunity for labs/simulations

Academics are weekly on Friday afternoons. They are run by the senior residents with staff helping. We aim to schedule a cadaver lab with industry once per month for the entire afternoon to help solidify the academic topic.  In the spring, the academic sessions are aimed towards anatomy at the USU cadaver lab.

Typical Academic Schedule 

1230-1330: Shock & Tell Cases

1330-1430: Academics Main Topic

1430-1600: Flexible time/Questions

Journal Club Structure 

Once per month, hosted at a nearby restaurant and focused on a subject that rotates every month. It is run in a team-based competition where literature is used to answer a clinical question or scenario. There are also discussions on bias and healthcare disparities to ensure quality healthcare delivery and consideration to all our patients from both military-specific and civilian perspectives. 

Labs/Simulation

Many opportunities exist for cadaver labs and simulations. We have access to an arthroscopy simulator 24/7. The USU cadaver lab is available for surgical planning and anatomy sessions. There is also a fully functional cadaveric arthroscopy station in the biomechanics lab for studies and practice.

Clinical Sites

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

Children’s National Medical Center, Washington D.C.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Washington Hospital Center, Washington D.C.

University of Maryland Shock Trauma, Baltimore, MD

Fort Belvoir, Fairfax, VA

INOVA Fairfax, Fairfax, VA 

Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, NC

Sibley Hospital, Washington D.C. 

Call Requirements

PGY1: Interns are introduced to taking call by starting as second hand for the resident on call at Shock Trauma over the weekend at night (“mule call"). This way, interns are introduced to trauma call at a busy hospital without taking full responsibility for all decisions

PGY2: Residents are responsible for taking primary in-house call at Walter Reed. They are backed up by their chief residents.  

PGY3: At both CHOP and CNMC residents will take in house call, both hospitals are large children’s hospitals and there you will get a lot of experience with fracture reduction and casting. There is also primary trauma call at both Shock Trauma and INOVA Fairfax. 

PGY4: There are no clinic responsibilities

PGY5: At WRNMMC, Sibley Memorial Hospital and Fort Bragg residents take home call. Only at INOVA Fairfax Trauma do residents take primary in house trauma call. There is no call required when on INOVA sports

PGY6: This year residents take senior call, home call, working with and teaching the junior residents. 

Mentorship Program

We do not have a formal mentorship program. We feel it is important to absorb multiple techniques to find which works best for you. You will rotate through each subspeciality while you are rotating at Walter Reed. 

Opportunity for Meeting Attendance 

You are technically allowed one meeting; however, the program will provide support for posters or presentations. During your research year is the best time for you to travel, attend conferences and courses! 

Does the program provide Loupes/Lead

Yes, we provide both loupes and lead at the beginning of your intern year. 

Does the program provide any textbook funding

No but Darnell Medical Library is easily accessible and has access to electronic copies of many textbooks. They are very receptive to feedback and will work toward obtaining a textbook if it is highly requested.